Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
Oh, you are going to love this creamy sweet potato chicken soup! It’s the perfect cozy meal for a chilly day when you just want to curl up with a warm bowl of something delicious. This soup is so hearty and filling, and guess what? It’s super easy to make!
You’ll have a big, steaming pot of sweet potato chicken soup ready in about 30 minutes. It’s packed with tender chicken, sweet potatoes, and yummy veggies. It’s one of my favorites!
Why You’ll Love Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
There are so many reasons to love this soup, but here are a few of my top ones. It’s a go-to in my house for a reason!
- A Full Meal: With chicken and lots of veggies, it’s a whole meal in one bowl.
- Use What You Have: Feel free to toss in any other veggies you have in your fridge.
- Yummy Broth: The broth is so creamy and full of flavor. YUM!
- Naturally Gluten-Free: There are no noodles in this soup, so it’s great for everyone.
- Pure Comfort: This is like getting a warm hug in a bowl. It’s just so comforting.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s talk about what you need for this yummy soup! Don’t worry about the exact amounts right now; you can find those in the recipe card at the bottom.
- Shredded Chicken: This makes the soup super hearty and filling.
- Olive Oil: You’ll use this to cook up your veggies and get all the flavors started.
- Onion, Carrots, and Celery: This classic veggie trio makes the soup smell and taste amazing.
- Garlic: Because, well, everything is better with a little garlic!
- Chicken Stock: This is the liquid base that makes your soup so rich and savory.
- Sweet Potatoes: The star of the show! They add a touch of sweetness and make the soup so creamy.
- Mushrooms: I love adding these for an earthy flavor, but you can leave them out if you want.
- Fresh Spinach: I toss this in at the end for some extra green goodness.
- Half-and-Half: This is my secret for making the soup extra creamy and delicious.
How to Make Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
Ready to make some soup? It’s really easy, I promise! Just follow these simple steps to a delicious dinner.
Step 1: Cook and Shred the Chicken
First, you’ll cook 1.25 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in some salted water. Let them simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then, take the chicken out and shred it with two forks.
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables
In your big Dutch oven, heat up 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss in the diced onion, carrots, and celery, and cook them for about 7 minutes until they get soft. Add the minced garlic and stir for one more minute.
Step 3: Simmer the Soup
Now, pour in 64 ounces of chicken stock. Add the diced sweet potatoes, 2 teaspoon dried oregano, 2 teaspoons coriander, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Let it all simmer for 12-15 minutes.
Step 4: Combine Everything
Add your shredded chicken to the pot. If you’re using them, now is the time to add the optional 6 ounces of diced mushrooms. Let it all simmer together until those sweet potatoes are nice and soft.
Step 5: Finish and Serve
Turn off the heat. Stir in 4-5 cups of fresh spinach until it gets all soft and wilted. If you want it extra creamy, pour in ½ cup of half-and-half. Give it one last taste and serve it up hot!
Tips for the Best Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
Want to make your soup AMAZING? Here are a few little secrets I’ve learned from making this recipe over and over again.
- Add Enough Salt: If your soup tastes a little boring, it probably just needs a bit more salt!
- Use Rotisserie Chicken: In a hurry? A store-bought rotisserie chicken works perfectly and saves you a step.
- Taste Before Serving: Always give your soup a little taste before you serve it. You might want to add more salt or pepper.
- Don’t Overcook Chicken: If you cook your own chicken, just cook it until it’s done so it stays nice and tender.
- Add Cream at the End: Stir in the half-and-half after you’ve turned off the heat so it doesn’t curdle.
Variations and Substitutions
Have fun and make this soup your own! It’s so easy to change things up based on what you like or what you have.
- Add More Veggies: You can throw in other veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or even some kale.
- Make it Vegan: Just leave out the chicken and cream. Use veggie broth and add some chickpeas for protein!
- Make It Spicy: If you like a little kick, add a bit more cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
- Try Different Herbs: Fresh thyme or rosemary would taste so good in this soup, too.
- Use Coconut Milk: If you can’t have dairy, full-fat coconut milk makes it just as creamy.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
This soup is great for leftovers! I love making a big batch to eat all week. Just pop any leftovers into a container and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze it for up to 4 months. When you’re ready to eat it again, just warm it up slowly on the stove or in the microwave.
Recipe FAQs
What to serve with sweet potato chicken soup?
It’s totally a meal by itself! But I love dipping some crusty bread into the yummy broth.
Can I use a slow cooker for this recipe?
Yes, for sure! Just throw everything but the spinach and cream in and let it cook on low.
Is it necessary to add the cream?
Nope! The soup is still super tasty without it. The cream just makes it extra rich.
Can I use frozen chicken?
It’s best to let your chicken thaw first. That way, you know it will cook all the way through.
How do I know when the sweet potatoes are done?
Just poke one with a fork! If the fork goes in easily, they’re ready to go.
Can I use other types of potatoes?
You could! Regular potatoes like Yukon Gold would work, but the soup won’t be as sweet.
Is this soup spicy?
It has a tiny, tiny kick from the cayenne pepper. If you don’t like spice, you can just leave it out.
What’s the best way to shred chicken?
I just use two forks to pull it apart. It’s super easy and works great every time.
Can I make this soup thicker?
It’s already pretty thick, but if you want it even thicker, just use a little less chicken broth.
Can I use ground coriander seeds?
The recipe uses the ground coriander you find in a jar in the spice aisle. It’s easier!
Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced small
- 3 medium carrots peeled and diced small
- 1 stalk celery diced small
- 3 to 5 cloves garlic minced
- 64 ounces reduced-sodium chicken stock
- 1.25-1.50 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and diced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 ounces diced portobello mushrooms optional
- 4-5 cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup half-and-half
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Put chicken breasts in a medium pot, cover them with water, and add some salt. Let it boil for 10-15 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
- Shred the Chicken: Take the chicken out of the pot and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, use two forks to shred it into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook the Veggies: Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a big Dutch oven. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 7 minutes. Then, stir in the garlic for one more minute.
- Simmer Everything: Pour in 64 ounces of chicken stock, the diced sweet potatoes, 2 tsp oregano, 2 tsp coriander, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper. Let it all bubble for 12-15 minutes.
- Add the Chicken: About halfway through simmering, add the 6 ounces of mushrooms (if you're using them) and all your shredded chicken to the pot.
- Finish and Serve: Turn the heat off. Stir in 4-5 cups of spinach until it wilts. Then, stir in ½ cup of half-and-half and a little cayenne pepper if you like. Taste it and serve it up hot!
Notes
- Using a rotisserie chicken from the store is a great time-saver!
- Start with a little less salt and spice, and then add more at the end if you think it needs it.
- If your soup tastes a bit flat, it probably just needs a little more salt.
- You can leave out the half-and-half if you want a lighter soup. It’s still delicious!
- Keep your leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. They make a great lunch
